Structural characteristics and enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of full biodegradable tea polyphenol/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) composite films

Abstract

Full biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) composite films were prepared with 5~40 wt% green tea polyphenol (TP) as toughener. The effects of mixing TP on mechanical properties, thermal properties and hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of composite films were investigated. Tension test results show that the incorporation of TP in the PHBV matrix can enhance the toughness of the composite films. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies show that there is a single glass transition temperature and the lower melting point temperature. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results confirm that the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in composite films. Contact angle measurements show that the hydrophilicity of TP/PHBV composite films can be controlled through adjusting the composition of TP.

Keywords

• Biodegradable polymers
• Mechanical properties
• Thermal properties
• Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydrox
• Tea polyphenol